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hey

there!

Barbara Fant Image 3.jpg

I have always loved writing poetry, but it became really important to me when I was in high school. My mother passed when I was fifteen and I became an angry teenager. I did not even know how to pray anymore, so I began to write. Poetry became my way of communication, my way of processing, and my way to pray.

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I am originally from Youngstown, OH and I moved to Columbus, OH to go to college. I found an open mic, I decided to get on stage, and I haven't left the stage since. I competed for years in poetry slam and was incredibly blessed. I competed in nine National and World Poetry slams, including five individual competitions and four national poetry slam teams. In 2008, we were named the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam Champions! I placed 8th out of 96 poets in the 2017 Women of the World Poetry Slam and I am a two-time Rustbelt Indy Finalist. I have also been commissioned by over 15 organizations.

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In 2010, my first poetry collection was published on Penmanship Books when I was awarded the Cora Craig Award for Young Authors. Since that time, I have also written two chapbooks, both released in 2017. My most recent collection of poetry, Mouths of Garden, was released on Sundress Publications in 2022.

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My art is and has always been ministry for me. I believe that God saved my life through art, and all I want to do is tour the world helping others by using my gift. I know that art has the power to heal. It saved my life and I want to live a life poured out, serving God, and using this gift to save others.

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Currently, I am working with two organizations rooted in prison abolition: the Arts for Healing and Justice Network in Los Angeles and JustMedia in New York City.

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